Feature Enclosures The freedom of choice
Alan Lewis, business development manager for Retex UK, looks at the design criteria of modern electrical applications and explains how companies have developed their standard product ranges to suit market requirements Design outline
A
housing or enclosure needs to fulfil a variety of requirem- ments from every electrical device on the market today. The overall footprint of the device, its design outline and its internal layout are all determining factors in the suitability of an enclosure for a given application. The last thing an OEM wants to do is compromise the design of its latest product to suit the enclosure that is available - espe- cially with a short run item that does not justify the cost of designing and moulding a bespoke solution. Modern day electromechanical devices are available in a myriad of shapes and sizes and as a result, when it comes to finding suitable enclosures, each application is likely to feature a slightly different set of requirements. While some projects will justify the outlay of a completely bespoke enclo- sure, the majority won’t. In these cases it’s vital that designers and production teams have an understanding of how their needs may already be catered for by an existing enclosure design.
Product footprint
The value on how small a device can be is rising as technology develops. Ultimately the size of the enclosure defines the overall dimensions of a product, therefore it is important to con- sider the ideal size during specification. Obviously there is no point in specify- ing an enclosure which is too small, but ultimately you may reduce the func- tionality and desirability of your prod- uct by specifying an enclosure with larger dimensions than necessary. Most leading enclosure manufactur- ers are aware of the increased pres- sures on design engineers to offer reduced sizes. As such they should offer numerous dimension options for their leading product ranges.
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When asked to describe an enclosure, the first word that many people reach for is ‘box’. This term may be mislead- ing as it summons images of a uniform rectangular shape which offers little room for flexible design innovation. While it’s true that many enclosures do match this shape - it is after all the optimal design in terms of maximum volume for internal wiring - a well developed product range should accommodate the many varying requirements which may be found. Many manufacturers offer a range of enclosures which are designed specifically for handheld devices. Here, design requirements include comfort in the hand and an under- standing of the expected dexterity of the average user. By rounding off the corners and producing edges which feature a slight curve, manufacturers are able to make products which fit comfortably in the hand. Equally they may reduce the width and depth of the product to allow the thumb of the hand holding the device a wider range of movement.
Slightly more difficult to accommo- date are desktop enclosures which may be required to sit in many differ- ent locations or offer varying viewing angles. A standard solution for many manufacturers is to offer a traditional rectangular ‘box’ or a custom solution to create a bespoke shape for the OEM’s application.
Bespoke tooling can be costly how-
ever, and typically results in increased lead times. This is why Retex UK has developed an extended range of desk- top solutions to accommodate the majority of industry requirements. This includes instrument cases with retractable feet, so the enclosure can either lie flat on a surface or at an angle, and sloping enclosures with a viewing panel which is raised at a second, steeper angle.
Internal layout
As important as the external dimen- sions of an enclosure is the internal design which ultimately determines the suitability of a product to any given application. Different fixing points will be required depending on the internal wiring of the product. For instance there may be a requirement to fix a terminal block in place or to
Above: as important as the external dimensions of an enclosure are, the internal design ultimately
determines the suitability of a product to any given application
facturer that can act as a specification partner rather than simply a supplier. Speak to them about your design and ask how different products in their range might suit your needs. While customisation is a fantastic way of tweaking a design to your needs, finding a standard product which closely matches them in the first place will save you time and money further down the line. To find out more about the range of products available from Retex UK, and the services available to help find the best product for your application, con- tact a member of the sales team.
Retex UK
www.retexuk.com T: 01933 234 400
Right: there are a number of benefits of specifying
enclosures designed for specific applications
Left: many
manufacturers offer a range of
enclosures which are designed specifically for handheld devices. Here, design requirements include comfort in the hand and an understanding of the expected dexterity of the average user
securely mount a PCB. Battery pow- ered applications may also require separate compartments which can be accessed separately.
Having spent many years working with OEMs to develop solutions for applications across many industries, Retex UK is able to offer a range of internal ‘maps’ for each of its product series which means the majority of designs can be accommodated within the product range. Options include PCB mounts integrated into the inter- nal enclosure wall, which allow the card to simply slide into place, and battery compartments with separation walls for AA or AAA or a PP3 battery for example.
Specification
When specifying an enclosure the best way to ensure that you source the right solutions is to find a manu-
Enter 212 MAY 2013 Electrical Engineering
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